Almost half of London’s children live in poverty

More than a third of youngsters live in social housing, while 61 per cent of children in inner London belong to an ethnic minority group.

The report by the London Child Poverty Commission (LCPC), Capital Gains, calls for tougher action from the Government and employers to raise salaries and increase employment in the capital.

LCPC found that 41 per cent of the 650,000 children in London are living in a household with an income of less than 60 per cent of the national median.

The report, the result of two years of research, calls for a Government minister with specific responsibility for cutting child poverty in London, and for an increase in child tax credit.

It also wants employers and unions to help low-paid workers and recent immigrants develop their careers. Other suggestions include tougher employment targets for Jobcentre Plus, more resources for literacy schemes, and a London-specific minimum wage.

Carey Oppenheim, chair of the LCPC, said: ‘It is hard to believe that four out of ten children are living in poverty in one of the richest cities in the world.

‘We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a difference to children’s lives.’